2001 was an ugly BDO, from memory. Limp Bizkit headlining on the main stage and a surly crowd. It would be an interesting (if methodologically shonky) exercise to compare annual arrest numbers with headlining acts...

Pendulum primarily covered their first album material, which is a shame as I find their second album, 'In Silico', which is closer to Muse-esque arena rock than D&B, a lot more interesting. It's worth checking out.

Thanks to Russell for linking to Tony's Neil Young set list (and to Tony for producing it!) - that tells me I only missed two of his songs in order to catch 9½ from Headless Chickens. They were well worth it - "Choppers" was my song of the day :)

Did anyone else find a lot of this year's sets were too loud? I had proper music earplugs, but they only worked during Neil Young (best sound EVER at a BDO I've been to), and I had to get some of those foam ones that turn you deaf to conversation. Wished I'd got them earlier in the day.

It's a young peoples' game, largely, isn't it? Loud music, and mashing and stuff.we went with a friend's 70 year old mother who had a wonderful time.Well, that settles it. Now I have to go to one. I am officially in awe.

Please do! I predict that you won't feel out of place at a BDO. Sure there are plenty of young people, but there are also plenty my age and older (I'm 38) and everyone always seems to be having a good time. Moshing is definitely not compulsory - or mashing for that matter :) It's a pretty easy place to be for the most part. Sometimes it can get a bit squashy - I was glad this year's headliners failed to appeal to quite so many people as a band like Metallica might, since that meant it was easier to move around. But there's always something else interesting that you can wander off to see when there are too many people in your way.

Oh and I recommend not waiting till an act you love is playing BDO - often the experience is not what you'd hope for, under the constraints of the festival setting. It's sometimes better to miss your fave band than to see them perform a disappointing show. I'd pick an indoor headline gig over a BDO slot any time, but we don't always get that choice... Anyway, in my experience of BDO it's better just to show up and enjoy what the day throws at you, than to pin your hopes on one or two acts.

As raving about shows is the order of the day, Leonard Cohen this evening was simply awesome! Best lightshow I have encountered (not flashy but perfect for the show, subtle and suitable), fantastic musicians and singers (the Webb sisters! ZOMG!) an, of course, the man himself. All of 75 and not looking a day over 60. Just magic!

I apologise to all those who couldn’t afford or missed out on tickets to Leonard Cohen. But his Wellington Concert was amazing. His great voice and poetry, his nine superb musicians (with backing singers who also turn cartwheels) provided an exceptionally enjoyable and memorable concert. Coming on stage soon after 8 pm they were still doing encores at 11.15pm with only a short break. And at the end the 75 year old - who joked about his age, and stature, and Te Papa’s giant squid - skipped off stage.

We had to wait for about the 4th encore but at 11 pm he got to the highlight for me (only a few hours before Obama’s inauguration) ‘Democracy’ (is coming to the USA). The twirly harmonical bits were almost drowned out by the cheering.

The concert covered a large proportion of his extensive repertoire mixing the old favourites and less known with some innovative treatments. Reciting ‘Thousand Kisses Deep’ rather than singing it was particularly powerful. The Webb sisters (sort of a female Everley Brothers) harmonised beatifully on ‘If It Be Your Will’. Another highlight was his political ballad 'Partisan'.

We could see, we could hear the words, and the sound and lighting were just right. A raised platform for wheelchairs gave a great view.

My only gripe. Why do so many people not get seated on time? The first 35 minutes was Sam Hunt’s – and what we could hear and see was great. Yet for the whole time people traipsed in front of us in the dark, some chatting, some calling to their friends, stumbling to their seats. Ggrrh. But forgotten as the older crowd dispersed happy and humming at 11.30.

For all you people going to Leonard Cohen on Thursday, you are in for something special if last night’s Wellington performance is anything to go by and yes it was well worth the price of the ticket. To many high lights to list, indeed the whole performance is just one super highlight.It’s the first concert I have been to where all the “roadies” are onstage providing vocals for the final encore. It was that kind of night.

I wonder if Kim Hill managed to get an interview with him. Her listeners were helping with the lobbying at the end of last year. Would be great to hear if she did. On the other hand the concert revealed quite a lot about about him and his life.

Not least that this kind of be-very-afraid tactic runs a serious risk of nasty unintended consequences. How many kids necked their entire supply before going in? Or decided to risk buying drugs on-site?

It took only two weeks before Mr Brown premonition resulted in a death. A very tragic set of circumstances.